Arizona working to keep Sean Miller for 2021-22 and maybe beyond, per report

It looks like Arizona is sticking with Sean Miller for at least another season, maybe longer.

College basketball insider Jon Rothstein is reporting that “Arizona and Sean Miller are currently moving forward with the idea that their marriage will continue through the 21-22 season and possibly beyond.”

Incredibly vague, yes, but it’s the first time any national writer has reported any real change in what has basically been a stalemate between Miller and Arizona since the 2020-21 season ended on March 1.

Miller, who led the Wildcats to a 17-9 record in his 12^th season at the school, is under contract for only one more season. It is almost unheard of for a college coach to enter that final year.

The only public comments from the school since the season ended are athletic director Dave Heeke saying he will “continue my conversations with Coach Miller regarding his contract as part of our regular offseason discussions and yearly program review” and president Robert C. Robbins saying that Miller “is our coach.”

Those statements were made on March 2 and March 8, respectively. Since then, nothing but silence and speculation, including USA Today’s Dan Wolken reporting that Robbins was unable to get the Arizona Board of Regents to approve an extension and “would prefer a parting of ways.”

Arizona is expected to return eight of its top nine scorers for 2021-22, including first-team All-Conference selection James Akinjo, Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Brown and All-Freshman team members Bennedict Mathurin and Azuolas Tubelis. The Wildcats have also signed three top-100 guards and are reportedly pursuing several notable transfers.